A man was stung to death by wasps on Saturday after he and a group of friends attempted to burn out a nest on his Kampong Chhnang property.

Sun Maly, Chres commune police chief in the province’s Kampong Tralach district, said yesterday that the man had died in hospital after being taken there at about 5pm Saturday.

“The victim’s family and neighbours took the victim from the scene and sent him to the hospital after the [attack]. The victim was pronounced dead at Kampong provincial hospital that night. He was seriously injured,” he said.

Three others injured during the attack are still recovering, Maly said, adding that one was so badly stung he was unable to move from his bed.

According to a report from the victim’s wife, he and three others returned from ploughing when they decided to burn the nest, located on a tamarind tree in their backyard. A swarm of wasps emerged, stinging all four numerous times, with her husband taking the brunt of the attack.